Darrell Clarke was pleased Barnsley ended a six-game winless streak but described his team’s first half performance as ‘unacceptable’.
The Reds trailed at the break after a poor first half but came from behind to win for the first time this season.
Clarke said: “That’s the worst we’ve played in the last six games.
“We deservedly won and had the better chances. But the first half was unacceptable and it shouldn’t take a rocket from me to get them going. I have mixed emotions. I am really pleased with the win and the response in the second half.”
He added: “Every minute intensity levels should be right at it. We need to look at why they weren’t. It was a very lethargic first half performance. The game was very end to end. "We still probably had the best chance of the first half with DKD going through one-on-one. Even sometimes when not at our best we’re still a danger.
“I am pleased that our fans who have come a hell of a long way could go home happy. I would like to thank them for coming down near Christmas and wish them a safe journey home.”
Clarke also said: “I told the players at half-time: if you don’t improve I will see you in the morning. If you don’t run hard and do the things I want, I will see you in the morning and we will do it then. I don’t want to be too critical because they have been good in recent weeks without results. We can’t have too many halves like that.
“I don’t enjoy the win when we don’t perform as well as I think we can. But I will take it after the five or six games we’ve had recently.”
Kelechi Nwakali marked his full league debut with a stunning long-range leveller then Davis Keillor-Dunn turned in a Stephen Humphrys cross.
Clarke said: “We scored two great goals. It was a good cross by Humphs and a good finish.
“I am really really pleased with Kelechi. He has taken time to get up to speed but the minutes he’s had recently have been very positive.
“Special mention to Conor McCarthy as well who has had to wait because the back three has performed well and picked itself. Donovan (Pines) and Conor had a much better second half.”
